An article in Bloomberg on Oct. 17 reported that President Joe Biden is considering asking Congress for an additional $100 billion in “defense assistance” for Ukraine and Israel, as well as Taiwan and for border security. Citing “people familiar with the matter,” Bloomberg reported reported that the request is meant to cover the entire fiscal year (read, get past the elections), and also to circumvent strong congressional opposition to further Ukraine funding.
“Aid for Israel enjoys broad bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress,” Bloomberg reported. “Assistance for Ukraine, however, has struggled to earn the favor of House Republicans.” The gambit is to “pursue a joint aid package for Israel and Ukraine in hopes of overcoming Republican opposition.… The decision to include border security funding in the package is also aimed at garnering the support of Republicans in Congress who have long linked additional foreign assistance to addressing an influx of migrants in the U.S.”
